Man Up - Trigger Warnings

Man Up cast members in rehearsal.

There has been in recent years a great deal of debate about whether trigger warnings are a sensible way of making content more accessible or a sign of a new generation lacking in resilience and unable to weather content which might be upsetting or unnerving.

To anyone who knows the work that Peer produces it will come as no surprise that we believe trigger warnings are an important part of how we make our work accessible. Like any tools of accessibility, audiences can choose to what extent they engage with the warnings depending on how relevant they might be to them personally.

What worries us far more is tendency to be afraid to talk to young people about challenging topics for fear of upsetting them especially when we know that children are exposed to a plethora of extreme content online from an increasingly young age. We believe in having the difficult conversations, and giving the young people the tools they need to critically assess what they encounter online so that they can feel empowered to make positive decisions.

This is particularly true for our new play Man Up which explores the challenges of being a boy and becoming a man. Below are the trigger warnings which we’re providing to all schools receiving the production.

Trigger Warnings

 Note: All negative behaviours are critiqued within the play itself and then are further explored in this teachers’ pack.
In this play audiences will see and hear.

 OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE

 One use of offensive language - ‘stuck up bitches.’ This is immediately followed by the actors discussing how deeply inappropriate and unacceptable this is and explaining that this is language which Tommy has picked up online.

 And more broadly

·      Reference to a boy’s topless photo being shared, its impact on his mental health, and his struggles with body image, including over-exercising.

·      Characters of both genders objectifying people's bodies.

·      Discussion about pornography including deep fake pornography.

·      A young woman expressing her fear of sexual harassment, abuse, and rape.

·      A young woman’s drink being spiked by a male peer.

·      Bullying and sexual harassment, including the intimidation of a young woman by a male peer and the bullying of a female teacher.

·      Depictions of unhealthy, coercive relationships, including a scene where one character is concerned her friend’s boyfriend may have hurt her.

·      References to harmful online content promoting false gender roles, extreme misogyny, and its potential links to violence and suicide.

 Sensory Warnings

·      The play uses pre-recorded music and ambient sound effects.

·      The cast’s voices are amplified using radio mics.

·      The play is lit using theatrical lighting and there are two sequences in which the young actors use handheld brightly coloured LED lights. The lights do not flash or strobe, so would not usually be a trigger for photosensitive epilepsy. However, as best practice, schools should check the management plans for any epileptic students whose condition can be triggered by light.